Two trims of the GR 86 will be available when the sports car goes on sale in November of this year: the base GR 86 and the GR 86 Premium. Both cars are powered by a 2.4-liter H-4 engine that makes 228 hp at 7,000 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 3,700 rpm—gains of 23 horses and 28 lb-ft of twist, respectively.Just as we assumed in our first look at the 86, that's right on par with the new Subaru BRZ.

Both six-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions will be available to route that power to the rear wheels. Toyota says the GR 86 will now do 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds with the manual transmission and 6.6 seconds with the automatic. That's quicker than the previous car, which Toyota estimated would do 0-60 in 7.0 and 8.0 seconds respectively—though it's worth noting that the last 86 we tested actually clipped two tenths off of Toyota's numbers.

Standard GR 86s will come on 17-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Primacy HP tires, and Premium models roll on a set of forged 18-inch wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber. While smaller wheel sizes aren't in vogue anymore (especially when some high-performance hatchbacks can now be had with 20s), the smaller diameter will likely benefit ride comfort while reducing unsprung mass. Hiding behind those wheels are 11.6-inch front and 11.4-inch rear brake rotors.

An aluminum roof contributes to a lower center of gravity, and aluminum fenders, new seats, and a redesigned muffler help keep weight in check. At a claimed curb weight of just over 2,800 pounds, a bit more than the last Toyota 86 we weighed at 2,753 pounds. Toyota says the new car has 50 percent more torsional rigidity compared to the car it replaces. All of this will hopefully make the new GR 86 even more fun to hoon.

We had some gripes with the outgoing car's interior. Luckily, some new goodies accompany the change from 86 to GR 86. A new 7.0-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster takes the place of the old analog gauges, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Premium models can be clad in a mixture of leather and Alcantara. Premium models with the automatic also get Subaru's EyeSight, and all GR 86s will also come with Toyota's Star Safety Sense system. A suite of driver aids to keep you on the straight and narrow and prevent you from backing into your neighbors' trash cans.

One final goodie we didn't see coming is a tie-in with NASA. No, buying a GR 86 doesn't make you an astronaut, but it does get you discounted access to the National Auto Sport Association events and one free High Performance Driving Event. The GR 86 will undoubtedly shine on the track, as its predecessor did, so encouraging owners to get out and experience their vehicle in a track environment should pay dividends in smiles.

Toyota still isn't talking dollars and cents, but we're holding true to our guess that the new GR 86 will start at around $30,000. Premium models will likely be at least another $5,000 on top of that, and an automatic will also add some bucks to the bottom line. That's all well and good, but truth be told, we just want to drive the thing already.

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